Packing daze

I feel like I'm overdue a blog update but I'm not even sure what to say.

Right now my days feel... strange, to say the least. I feel like I should be walking around here sobbing over all of the "lasts" in this house in these days before we move. Because that sounds like me.

If you know me, you know how sentimental I am. You know how special to me are all my kids' height marks on the wall behind the bathroom door, the countless nights with friends in our kitchen playing Settlers of Catan, long summer days in the sprinkler in the backyard... But I really don't feel like crying. Are you shocked? :) I just feel like we've lived an amazing 8 years in this house and now God is peacefully and gracefully closing that chapter. And I'm okay with that.

Sure as I say this, watch me start balling all week! Haha! (And I do hope to have a post of pictures and memories of this house over the years. Maybe even a montage if I have time. :)) The one thing that is a little sad to me is the thought that Mabry (and of course Avery) won't remember this house at all. That makes me want to tear up just a little.

But for the most part, it really just feels right. I feel done here. Now thats gotta be God. :)

Aaaaand so begins the packing. Which is the "strange" part of my days. I did a ton of de-cluttering last year when we thought we would try to sell the house. And then a little more this year when it was time to show the house. So this should be a fairly easy process. But because I don't have a bunch of moves under my belt, I'm not really sure how soon to really get after the packing. (Any comments/tips are welcome!) And I don't like the thought that I might pack up something and then need it. I really do want and need to be as organized as possible. As a mom of so many little ones, organization has become key over the years. More so with each child actually. My motto is always: "be as organized as possible, but if it all falls apart anyway, be okay with that." Which will be a great motto to take into a move I think. :)

The other thing is that I can't pack too many boxes myself (unless I pack them and leave them where they are packed) lest my mom find out I lifted a heavy box and call to reprimand me. :) But in her defense, the Braxton Hicks haven't slowed down at all. In fact they're slowly but steadily picking up over the last few weeks. So I probably should be careful.

So today's goal: write out lists of boxes to pack for each room and then tape the list to the door of that room. That way when my sisters-in-law come help me in a couple days (thank you girls!) I'll feel ready. :) Yes, that satisfies my organizational needs.

As for details about the next Spencer residence:

I hesitate to share too many details just yet but in a nutshell (and I've shared a little of this already): We've fallen in love with an amazing-for-us house. LOVE. But its a short sale. Which can be a long, complicated process. We've put in an offer on that house and still haven't heard anything back (its been a week). There are also a couple of other houses that we... like... and would work... technically. :) And we really debated putting an offer on one of those because of our time crunch (moving out by the end of the month, baby coming in June... ) but really, right now, we have more of a peace about just waiting on this other one and seeing what happens. So thats what we're doing. If you'd like to pray for us, pray that we hear an answer, one way or another, soon.

Ok, the lovely little dinger on the washing machine is reminding me that my blogging time is up. Love you all, and I thank you genuinely for your prayers over our family through this time of transition.